Your Next Beer

For nearly 40 years, beer drinkers in post-World War II America were conditioned to think the best beer was a bright golden color—clean and crisp without a hint of haziness, even at palate-numbing temperatures. A well-made beer was transparent and devoid of any sediment.

Cardinal Pale Ale This ale from Nebraska Brewing pours a golden straw color with a lacing head. Floral hops and background malt in the nose. A nice medium-bodied beer that shows some caramelized malt and good bittering hops. The finish has more of the floral notes encountered in the aroma. Cottonwood Endo IPA The beer... View Article

Judges at the 30th annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver handed out medals in 83 categories in September, but no beer type received more attention than pale ale. That’s because pale ale is divided into seven distinct categories for the annual judging to accommodate stylistic variations and the sheer volume of entries.

Avery 18 Dry Hopped Rye Saison This 8.12 percent alcohol by volume ABV Colorado beer pours a cloudy amber color with a respectable head. There is a hint of citrus to the floral nose. The flavor gives off touches of apple skin and a bit of the rye spice, without being too peppery. Plenty going... View Article

It is a sure sign that the pioneers of the American craft- brewing movement now have more than a few grey gray hairs. Last year Sierra Nevada celebrated its 30thth anniversary with a special four- beer series. Brewers like Avery (18), Great Divide (17) and Stone (15) are closer to their milestone 20thth anniversary than... View Article

Trend spotting when it comes to beer is not as easy as it sounds. With nearly 1,800 breweries in the U.S. (up from 42 when I reached legal drinking age in 1978) and countless imported brands, beer companies are constantly engaged in “look at me” marketing.

A business associate once told me that the world is pretty much segregated by what it drinks. He opined that there are wine drinkers and there are beer drinkers, never bothering to account for those who might enjoy whiskey, gin or vodka, let alone teetotalers.

Cascade The Vine ’08: This ale changes slightly with each vintage. The Portland brewery starts with a Northwest-style sour ale base that is a blend of soured Triple, Blonde Quad and Golden ales that have been refermented with the fresh pressed juice of Niagara grapes. The beer pours a slightly hazy dark gold with a... View Article